Bratva Beast (Bravikov Bratva #1)

Chapter 7

THREE WEEKS LATER

ISABELLA

We step into Cynric’s favorite restaurant and the Matre’d beams at Cynric. “Mr. Bravikov. Welcome.” I can tell he sees Cynric’s scars, but he’s quick to avert his eyes. “You’re back from your lengthy travels. Wonderful. It’s great to have you return to DeMarco’s.”

Cynric smiles. “I’ve missed your chef, Antonio.”

“You’ll love his new dishes. He’s expanded the menu but kept all the old favorites. Should there be something you want that is not on the menu, just let me know.” He nods like it’s a state secret.

My eyes scan the restaurant. Being Papa’s ward, I recognize people associated with the bratva from my childhood and living with Papa.

Cynric’s arm around my waist stiffens. I turn to catch his glare. A man is staring, and he lifts his glass to Cynric with a scowl. Shit, I wonder who that is? The host leads us to a secluded booth, and we sit.

“I’ll send over my best server. Please let me know if anything is less than perfect.” He steps away.

Cynric opens his mouth as a young woman sets a short glass with an amber liquid and a large ice cube in the center. “Your drink, Sir.”

My head flicks to the woman. Her focus is centered on Cynric. She knows him or she wants to.

“You haven’t called.”

He stiffens his jaw. “No.” She’s not wearing the server’s outfit, just a blouse and slacks. “You don’t work here.”

She shrugs. “I was a server when we met.”

Cynric’s jaw tightens. Annoyance covers his good looks, as he avoids her hand reaching for his arm. My head feels like a ping-pong ball, bouncing back and forth between them.

She glares at me and then looks back at Cynric. “It’s been weeks.” Her eyes bore into the side of my head.

Cynric shakes his head. “Months. It was sex, Dani. Just scratching an itch.” He leans back in his seat. She doesn’t know him that well because she pushes. It’s clear he’s done.

“You don’t have to take her home. I’m just here with a friend. I can go with you.”

“It would be rude not to take her home. She lives with me. You should go away, Dani. I didn’t promise you anything, and I have no need for you.”

The color drains from her face as she nods, turning to go back to the bar.

Cynric blows out a huge breath as I tap his hand. “Whatever you think is going to come out of my mouth, you’re wrong. I don’t care about what you did before. So long as you’re not banging anyone else. We’re cool.”

A slow smile creeps up. “You’re a fuck ton more mature than I expected. I appreciate it.”

I pick up my menu and scan the expensive list of entrees. He pushes my menu down with his finger. “Let me order for you.”

It’s a statement, not a request, but it feels right. I don’t need to make a decision about dinner. I’d rather just let him do it. I close the menu and smile. “Go for it.”

The server arrives with bread and escargot. I’ve never been a fan of snails, and my stomach lurches at the prospect. Cynric notices my revulsion and flicks his head to the server. “We’ll stick with bread.” The server removes the appetizer as Cynric takes my hand in his. “You okay?”

“My stomach didn’t like the smell. The one time I had them didn’t go well.”

“I can see that. They’re an acquired taste.”

The server returns and Cynric orders. There’s a little thought that peeks up in the back of my mind. I’m not clear what I’m worrying about, but I’m sure it isn’t good. We’re halfway through dinner when my mind sends the little item to the front of my brain. I gasp, setting down my fork. “Oh.”

Cynric catches the apprehension on my face. “What’s wrong?”

“I. Uh. I need to stop by the store on the way back to the penthouse.” I’m careful not to call it home.

He chews his next bite of steak and nods. “You’re still not feeling well?”

“It’s going to be okay.” Please let me be wrong. Please let me be wrong.

Forty minutes later, Cynric’s driver pulls into traffic. I lean into Cynric. “Can we stop at the twenty-four-hour pharmacy?”

He studies me. Time slips by before he begins to nod slowly. “Sure.” He leans forward in his seat. “Bogdan, stop at the pharmacy.”

Five minutes later, we pull into the parking lot. I open the door and Cynric growls. “Wait.” Cynric moves around to my door and opens it. “I’m coming with you.”

My hand is in his, and I stop moving. He pulls me gently to my feet. “I can do this without you.”

“No. You can’t.” He leads me into the pharmacy. “Do you need something for your stomach?”

“Uh. No. I didn’t want to have this conversation until I was sure one way or another.” I keep my head from turning to look at him as I walk us to the women’s health aisle.

“What are you looking for?” His eyes scan the shelves as we walk. His hand stiffens in mine as I move to the end of the aisle and select the best pregnancy test for early testing.

Cynric snarls, his eyes popping out of his head. “Is that a pregnancy test?”

I stare at him with a laser glare and slowly nod my head as I walk the small pink and purple box to the counter. The clerk scans the box without the slightest reaction that this could be life changing for me. I hold my breath as I pull my credit card through the reader. Stress weighs on Cynric like clouds full of rain. She bags my purchase, and we walk out with more distance between us than we have had in weeks.

Bogdan opens the back door for me to climb through, giving Cynric and his pale color the side-eye. “All okay, boss?”

“Just get us the fuck home.”

My heart is racing. My stomach flips like a fish in the bottom of a boat, and I can’t lessen the loud waves in my ears. I’m not a stranger to stress. I wouldn’t be nearly done with med school if I didn’t have a clear understanding of how my body responded to stimuli. We step inside the penthouse, and the aura surrounding us is electric. Cynric is ready to explode.

“How the hell are you pregnant?”

“Contrary to popular belief, birth control is only ninety-nine percent effective.”

He blows out his breath, catching the end with a frustrated groan. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.” I hand him the bag and walk the test into the front bathroom. I close the door. I go through the motions to use the test, berating myself for having sex at all. What was I thinking? I don’t need a baby going into an internship. Stupid, stupid, stupid. The words echo in my brain.

“Well?” He demands from the other side of the door.

“I don’t know yet.”

He groans. “Why not?”

“The test takes a few minutes. I’ll share the results when they’re done.” I set the test on the side of the sink and put the seat cover down on the toilet.

The door opens, and Cynric steps in. The small powder room is barely big enough for one person, let alone someone the size of Cynric. He leans against the counter. “Didn’t you know you were late?”

My brow raises, and I stare at the number two of Papa’s bratva. “I don’t always have a period. I didn’t think the nausea was a pregnancy symptom.”

“I remember my mother talking about being nauseous when she found out she was pregnant with the twins.”

“Oh. Okay.” I continue to flip my wrist to check the time. “I didn’t plan this.”

He bends down and pulls up my chin so I’m staring at him. “I know you didn’t. You wouldn’t do that.”

His comment drops my stress a degree, and I take a cleansing breath. “Whatever this says, you’re not responsible for me or any baby.”

His eyes flash, and a sly smile creeps up his lips. “That’s where you’re wrong. You are mine. Any child you carry is mine. I didn’t plan to claim you, but now that I have, I’m looking forward to having you round with my child. Papa will be pissed, but it won’t be the first time.”

My voice catches in the back of my throat. Not the life affirming declaration of love I would have hoped for in another life. My phone beeps telling me it’s time. I pick up the test and hold it out for both of us to peruse. It’s positive. I wait for an explosion, expecting to hear Russian expletives, but instead I’m pulled into gentle arms and held while he whispers Russian words about love and family.

He murmurs. “Thank you.”

I lean back, staring at the Beast and sigh. “For?”

“Giving me a family.”

“You can’t be happy about this?”

He cocks his head and smiles. “Amazingly happy, I should add.”

“Well, I’m not. Having a baby isn’t in my plans, Cynric.”

A frown covers his face. “You won’t end it?”

I shove him off. “Of course not. I’m grateful I have a choice, but no.”

He mumbles. “Not sure there really is a choice.”

I glare. “My body. My choice.”

“Well, I’m happy about this.”

Papa’s face pops into my mind. “Papa won’t be. This will fuck up his plans he’s always talking about.”

Cynric waves his hand. “I’ll handle him.” He kisses the top of my head. “What do you need?”

The weight of that question coats my whole body in a syrup of indecision. “I don’t know.” I drop the test in the trash as he scoops me up, cradling me in his arms.

We walk through the apartment. He whispers. “I can count the number of good surprises on one hand. This is a good surprise.”

My mind is still wrapping itself around what’s happened as he sets me down next to the bed to begin peeling off my clothes. “You’re not mad?”

He stands in front of me cupping my naked breasts. “I’m not mad.”

My brain scrambles trying to make sense of what is happening and magically he’s naked with a supreme erection. “You’re not a one-woman man.”

He sucks a nipple into his mouth and pops off. “I wasn’t. But I am now.”

He pushes me back against the side of the bed, and I fall. He kneels next to the bed and moves his mouth to cover my sex. His index finger finds my clit and flicks it as he sucks and licks. I don’t have time to rationalize what’s happening. My body is overloaded with emotions. I writhe and moan as he brings me to orgasm. My hand squeezes the comforter as the other hand wraps around his head, pushing him harder into my sex. “Oh.” Time stands still as I fall off the precipice into bliss.

Cynric chuckles. “That was awesome. My turn.”

My body hasn’t come all the way down, and he’s inside me. His cock is hard like velvet-covered steel, and another orgasm is just out of reach. He lifts my hips to delve further, and my breath hitches. The feeling is better than I could have ever imagined. He plays my body like his own personal instrument, and I cry out. His voice joins me as he wraps himself around my torso and kisses me hard.

Finally, we still in each other’s arms. He drops to the side of me and brushes my loose tendrils away from my face. “Tell me you can be happy with me.”

The request rattles around my head. Can I? Thoughts war in my brain. I blurt. “I am happy. I never expected to fall…”

His eyes widen. “Fall?”

Oh crap. I don’t want him to know. Find the right phrase. Don’t give him the upper hand. Love doesn’t turn out well for women. I bite my lower lip and just take a leap of faith. “I’ve fallen in love with you.” The room is silent except for the air coming through the vent. He doesn’t say anything, and I want to crawl into a hole.

“Isabella?”

I steel my heart as I turn. “What?”

“I feel the same.”

My heart cries out in joy as my brain holds up a huge stop sign. He didn’t speak the words. His mouth crashes down on mine, and the questions about what he actually meant don’t get formed.

He cuddles me, brushing his fingers gently over my skin. “Sleep.”

I should get up. I have things I need to do. The thoughts sit on a shelf smirking at me as I drift off.

I wake up to a cold, empty bed. It’s my only day off, and I don’t have anything planned. I raise my hand to block the light to check the time. Nausea climbs my throat. I’m going to be sick. I throw off the comforter and run into the bathroom, throwing open the toilet, I empty my stomach. Seriously. The moment I find out I’m pregnant, I get morning sickness. You’ve got to be kidding me. I hear heavy footsteps rushing in my direction as I sit down against the wall.

Cynric sticks his head around the corner. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I start to get up and nearly lose my balance, bracing myself against the wall. Before I can think, Cynric’s arms are around me, cradling me to his chest. “What can I do?”

“I need something easy on my stomach: crackers, dry toast.”

He walks us into the bedroom and places me gently on the side of the bed. He picks up his phone. “Bring saltines and juice to my room.”

I glare. “You could use a ‘please’.”

“No.” He kisses my forehead. “Should you get back into bed?”

“I think I’ll take a quick shower.”

“No.”

“What is this ‘no’?”

He crinkles his forehead. “You need to eat before you do anything else.”

The bell chimes, and he steps into the other room to wait for Mrs. Belova. He steps back into the bedroom with a tray. He prattles off a perfect English accent. “Your food, milady.”

“It’s amazing how much you sound like a Brit.”

“I am a Brit. Well half-Brit. Thanks to mom.” He frowns. “She would have been so excited to have a grandchild.”

I nibble on a cracker. “The total opposite of what Papa is going to think.”

“Eh. He’ll get over it.” He walks into the shower, calling out over his shoulder. “Maybe I’ll just knock him off early.”

“The things you say.”

“He wouldn’t like that anymore than the things I do.”